Weighing-machine.



J. M. GHAPPEL.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 29,1909.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOH 2 ATTORNEYS n4: Nomus PETERS ca. wnsumcrou, D. c.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

J. M. CHAPPEL.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

APBLIOATION FILED JULY 29,1909.

THE NURRls parses co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

F 1 W n LT. A

J. M. GHAPPEL. WEIGHING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 29,1903.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. OHAPPEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES S. MARSH, 0F WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

WEIG-HING-MACHINE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES M. CHAPPEL; a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Weighing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to coin-controlled weighing machines in which the weight of a person or other object standing on the weighing platform is displayed by a pointer on a dial and seen after the introduction of the proper coin.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved weighing machine unlimited as to the number of loads put on the weighing platform by the use of a spring actuated mechanism, the spring of which is automatically wound up, and means are provided for preventing overwinding or underwinding of the spring, thus insuring at all times a proper functioning of the machine without requiring any attention.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for allowing the pointer to oscillate without displaying the weight until the proper coin is introduced.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the weigh ing machine, parts being in section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view of the coin-controlled pointer mechanism, the pointer shaft being in section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the same, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the mechanism for winding up the spring in inactive position; Fig. 4; is a similar view of the same, and showing the parts in position for winding up the spring; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view of the loose gear wheel on the winding-up shaft; Fig. 7 is a face view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism on the winding-up shaft; Fig. 8 is a face view of the dial and pointer in the upper portion of the casing; Fig; 9 is a detail sectional view showing the train of gearing operated by the motor and the coin operated lever with its tooth engaging one of the wheels of the said train; and Figs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 29,

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

1909. Serial No. 510,172.

I 10 and 11 are enlarged face views of the loose gear wheel on the winding up shaft I and its spring.

On the hollow base A, of the casing of the machine is mounted a movable scale platform B, adapted to be depressed by the weight of a person or other object standing or placed on the said platform B, the latter being connected with the usual multiplying mechanism located in the base A and including a lever B having a knife edge trunnion B engaging a hook C on the lower end of a rod C carrying at its upper end an anvil C the rod extending into the hollow standard A erected on the base A and the rod terminating in a circular casing A containing the coin-controlled operating mechanism and a spring motor hereinafter more fully described. The rod C and the anvil C are normally held in raised position by a compression spring C resting at its lower end on a support C aflixed to the base A, and at its upper end the spring presses against a collar C adjustably secured to the rod C by a set screw C By the arrangement described the tension of the spring C can be regulated. Now, when a person steps on the platform B, a downward swinging motion is given to the lever B which pulls the rod C and its anvil C in a downward direction against the tension of the spring C the extent of the depression of the platform B and of the rod C and its anvil C being dependent on the weight of the person, as is well known in weighing machines of this type. The anvil C governs the extent of the movement of a plunger D, mounted to slide up and down in suitable roller guideways E, mounted on a frame F secured within the circular casing A The plunger D is provided with an offset D, adapted to abut against the lower end of the frame F, with a view to limit the upward sliding movement of the plunger D, the downward movement being limited by the anvil C The plunger D is provided with a rack D in mesh with a pinion G secured on the pointed shaft G journaled in the frame F, and on the said pointer shaft G is secured a pointer G indicating on a dial G held on the front face of the circular casing A (see Fig. 8). The plunger D is normally locked in its raised position and for this purpose a mutilated ratchet wheel G is secured on the pointer shaft G and is engaged by a pawl G fulcrumed at F on the frame F.

Coin-controlled mechanism is provided for raising or tripping the pawl G and thus releasing the ratchet wheel G and the plunger D to permit the descent of the latter. The coin-controlled mechanism comprises a two-armed lever H fulcrumed at F on the frame F and provided with a transversely extending pin H engaging the under Side of the pawl G to lift the latter out of engagement with the ratchet wheel Gr at the time the lever H swings in the direction of the arrow a. A pin H on the lever H limits the swinging movement of the pawl relative to the lever H, the front end H of the latter being weighted so as to normally hold the lever H in lowermost position, as indicated in Fig. 2. The rear end of the lever H is provided with a seat H extending under a coin chute (not shown) so that a coin H dropping down the said chute encounters the seat H*, to swing the lever H in the direction of the arrow (4, thus imparting an upward swinging movement to the pawl G for the latter to release the ratchet wheel G and the plunger D as before mentioned.

Time mechanism is provided for holding the lever H and pawl G in the raised position above described for a predetermined period, preferably about three seconds, to afford sufiicient time for the depression of the scale platform B and the actuation of the pointer G to indicate the weight of the person on the dial G previous to the plunger being again arrested by the pawl G and the intermediate mechanism consisting of the ratchet wheel G pinion G and rack D of the plunger D.

The time mechanism above referred to consists of a motor-driven wheel I secured on a shaft I ournaled in the frame F, and the said wheel I is provided in its peripheral face with a notch I adapted to be engaged by a tooth H depending from the front arm H of the lever H. Now, when the lever H is in the normal position shown in Fig. 1, then the tooth H engages the notch I thus holding the wheel I against rotation, and when the lever H is caused to swing in the direction of the arrow 64 by the weight of a coin H upon the seat H*, as previously explained, then the tooth H is lifted out of the notch I and the wheel I is thus unlocked and is now rotated by the action of a motor J. Immediately after the wheel I rotates, its notch I is carried out of alinement with the tooth H and when the lever H is relieved of the coin H and swings back in the inverse direction of the arrow a by the action of its weighted arm H then the tooth H rides on the peripheral face of the wheel I until the latter has made one complete revolution. IVhen this takes place, the notch I moves into alinement with the tooth H and the latter drops into the notch I thus locking the wheel I against rotation until the lever H is again actuated by a coin H as above described.

The motor J is preferably of the springactuated type and consists of a helical spring J, secured at its inner end to the hub of a flanged collar J keyed or otherwise secured to a winding-up shaft J journaled in suitable bearings in the frame F. The outer end of the spring J is secured to a pin J attached to a gear wheel J 5 in mesh with apinion I secured on the shaft I carrying the notched wheel I. The windingup shaft J 3 is held against return movement by a ratchet wheel K and dog K. hen the spring J is wound up and the notched wheel I is unlocked by the lever H, as previously explained, then the gear wheel J 5 is rotated by the force of the wound-up spring J and the rotary motion of the gear wheel J 5 is transmitted by the pinion I and shaft I to the notched wheel I to rotate the latter until the notched wheel has made one revolution and is then arrested by the tooth H of the lever H. i

In order to render the machine unlimited as to the number of loads put on the scale platform B, the spring J of the motor J is automatically wound up and provision is made to prevent overwinding and underwinding of the spring. For the purpose mentioned the following arrangement is made: A stud L extends between the outer and the next following convolution of the spring J of the motor J, and the said stud L extends through a segmental slot-J formed in the gear wheel J 5 (see Fig. 6). The stud L is secured to an arm L fulcrumed at L on the front face of the gear wheel J The stud L is provided with a collar L journaled on the rear face of the gear wheel J 5 to hold the stud against transverse movement, but to allow the stud to travel in the segmental slot J The rear free end L of the stud L is rounded off and abuts against the beveled cam face N of a circular cam N secured to a rod N mounted to slide transing-up shaft J 3 and in mesh with the pinion G on the pointer shaft G. The pawl O is pressed on by a spring 0 to hold the pawl in engagement with the deep-cut teeth of the ratchet wheel 0 (see Fig. 7) at the time the cam N is in the position shown in Fig. 5, so that a rotary motion given to the pinion G by the plunger D during an upward movement thereof, is transmitted by the gear wheel 0 pawl O and ratchet wheel 0 to the windingup' shaft J to wind up the spring J. Then the cam-carrying rod N is shifted forwardly in the direction of the arrow Z) (see Figs. 4 and 5), then the cam N acts on the pin 0 and lifts the pawl 0 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 0, so that a rotary motion given to the gear wheel 0 from the pinion G of the pointer shaft G does not cause a turning of the winding-up shaft J Now, this motion given to the cam N in the direction of the arrow 5 takes place at the time the motor spring J is wound up to a desired extent, but when the spring has run down to a certain extent, then a reverse shifting of the cam N takes place to allow the pawl O to swing back into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 0, as indicated in Fig. 7. The cam N is pressed on by a spring N to shift the said cam N, the rod N and the cam N in the direction of the arrow 6 at the time the stud L is at the inner end of the beveled face N of the cam N, as indicated in Fig. 3. hen the spring J unwinds, its second outer convolution exerts a pressure against the stud L to move the latter outwardly (see Fig. 9), the stud 110w traveling up the beveled face N of the cam N, thus moving the latter in the inverse direction of the arrow I) and against the tension of the spring N and when the cam N is thus shifted rearwardly, the cam N is carried along in the same direction. Now, when the stud L reaches the outer end of the beveled cam face L (see Fig. 4), the spring J has unwound to a desired extent and the cams N, N have now been shifted to their extreme rearmost position, and the cam N allows the pawl O to swin into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 0, so that on the next rotation of the gear wheel 0 the pawl O is carried along and the ratchet wheel 0 and the winding-up shaft are turned to wind up the spring J. During the winding up of the spring J the outermost convolution presses the stud L in an inward direction, so that the rounded off end L of the stud L travels inward on the beveled face N of the cam N now pressed forward in the direction of the arrow Z) by the spring N as before explained. hen the stud L reaches the innermost end of the beveled face i of the cam N, the latter and the cam N are in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the pawl O thrown out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 0. Thus, from the foregoing it will be seen that the motor spring J "is automatically wound up and the said spring governs the extent of its winding up and its unwinding, and overwinding and under winding of the spring J is prevented.

The ratchet wheel G has a portion of its teeth out out to form a smooth portion G for the pawl G to ride on in case parties attempt to operate the machine by jumping on the platform B and moving it abruptly without inserting a coin, it being understood that when the plunger D is pushed up to its fullest extent, the ratchet wheel G is turned to bring the last tooth adjacent to the free end of the pawl and when a party jumps on the platform 1) without inserting a coin, then the plunger only drops a short distancethat is, until the ratchet wheel G" has turned for the free end of the pawl G to reach the other end of the smooth portion of the ratchet wheel G*, the pawl now engaging the first tooth of the ratchet wheel G*, as shown in Fi 2. The pointer G now stands at Zero on the dial G and when the plunger is raised to its full extent-that is, until the offset D strikes the frame Fthen the pointer G swings only over the non-grad uated space of the dial.

In order to insure a uniform running of the motor J, a governor is provided in the form of a wind wheel P, secured on a shaft P journaled in the frame F, and on the said shaft P is secured a pinion P in mesh with a gear wheel P secured on a shaft P journaled on the frame F and carrying a pinion P in mesh with a gear wheel P secured on the shaft I carrying the notched wheel I.

The operation is as follows: lVhen the several parts are in the normal position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, then the spring J of the motor J is wound up to the desired extent, the wheel I is held against rotation by the lever H, and the pawl G is in engagement with the ratchet wheel G, thus retaining the plunger D in its normal raised position into which the plunger was moved by the anvil C on the action of the spring C after release of the platform 13 by a previous load. Now, when a person steps onto the platform 13, the anvil C is moved downward a distance proportionate to the weight of the person on the platform B, and when the person now inserts the proper coin H then the latter swings the lever H in the direction of the arrow (4, whereby the lever H lifts the pawl G out of engagement with the ratchet wheel G to release the plunger D and at the same time the lever H disengages the tooth H from the notch I in the wheel I. The latter is now rotated by the action of the motor J, and the released plunger D drops until it strikes and comes to rest as the coin H drops off the seat H, then the lever H swings back and the tooth H now rides on the peripheral face of the wheel I until it finally drops into the notch I and arrests the turning motion of the wheel I, the latter having now made one complete revolution. hen the person steps off the platform, the plunger D is raised to the normal position by the action of the spring C lifting the rod C and the anvil C as before explained.

It is understood that the motor J is active only at the time for giving one turn to the wheel I, and as soon as the motion of the wheel I is arrested, the motor J stops. Now, on about ten or fifteen repetitions of the above described operation, the spring J has run down to a predetermined extent, and when this takes place the motor parts are in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5; that is, the cam mechanism has shifted rearwardly so that the pawl O is moved into engagement with the ratchet wheel O, and when the plunger D is next moved upward by the action of the spring C then the winding-up shaft J 3 is turned to wind up the spring J. The spring J is only wound up to its full extent through repeated lifting of the plunger D after successive weigh-i ing operations, and when the spring has been wound to its full extent, then the cams N, N are returned to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby lifting the pawl 0 out of engagement with its ratchet wheel 0.

The guideways E for the plunger to slide in are preferably made of sets of rollers journaled on the frame F to reduce friction of the up and down moving plunger to a minimum. The plunger D is pressed on by a roller E at the side opposite the rack D and at a point directly opposite the point of contact of the pinion G and the rack D to hold the rack at all times in proper mesh with the pinion Gr (see Fig. 1). The roller E is journaled on the free end of an arm E fulcrumed on the frame F and pressed on by a spring E Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a coin controlled apparatus, a coincontrolled device, a motor for limiting the time within which the coin-controlled mechanism is inactive after the introduction of the coin, and automatic means for restoring lost energy of the motor.

2. In a coin controlled apparatus, a coincontrolled device, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the coin-controlled mechanism is inactive after the introduction of the coin, and automatic means for rewinding the spring of the said spring-actuated mechanism.

3. In a coin controlled apparatus, a coincontrolled device, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the coin-controlled mechanism is inactive after the introduction of the coin, and automatic means for rewinding the spring of the said spring-actuated mechanism, the said automatic means having devices to prevent overwinding and underwinding of the said spring.

4. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a vertically movable operating member geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coin-actuated means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a motor for limiting the time within which the said coin-actuated means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, and automatic means for restoring lost energy of the said motor.

5. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a vertically movable operating member geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coin-actuated means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a spring actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the said coin-actuated means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, and automatic means for rewinding the spring of the said springactuated mechanism.

6. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a vertically movable operating member geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coin-controlled means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the said coin-controlled means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, and a connection between the said shaft and the said spring-actuated means for automatically rewinding the spring thereof.

7. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a vertically movable operating member geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coin-actuated means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the said coinactuated means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, the said spring-actuated mechanism comprising a winding-up shaft, a wheel loose on the said shaft and connected with a member of the said coin-actuated means, a spring having one end secured to the said winding-up shaft and the other end to the said wheel, a gear wheel loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said shaft, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting the said a vertically movable 0 erating member geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coin-actuated means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the said coin-actuated means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, the said spring-actuated mechanism comprising a winding-up shaft, a wheel loose on the said shaft and connected with a member of the said coin-actuated means, a spring having one end secured to the said winding-up shaft and the other end to the said wheel, a gear wheel loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said shaft, a pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting the said gear wheel with the said windingaip shaft, and automatic means controlled by the said wheel and spring for throwing the said pawl and ratchet mechanism into and out of action to prevent overwinding and underwinding of the said spring.

9. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a vertically movable operating member geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coin-actuated means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the said coin-actuated means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, the said spring-actuated mechanism comprising a winding-up shaft, a wheel loose on the said shaft and connected with a member of the said coin-actuated means, a spring having one end secured to the said winding-up shaft and the other end to the said wheel, a gear wheel loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said shaft, a pawl andtratchet mechanism connecting the said gear wheel with the said winding-up shaft, a cam for throwing the pawl of the said pawl and ratchet mechanism into and out of engagement with its ratchet wheel, a shifting rod carrying the said cam and movable in -the direction of its length, a second cam on the said shifting rod, and a pin carried by the said wheel and engaging the said second cam.

10. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a vertically movable operating mem ber geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coinactuated means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the said coin-actuated means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, the said spring-actuated mechanism comprising a winding-up shaft, a wheel loose on the said shaft and connected with a member of the said coin-actuated means, a spring having one end secured to the said winding-up shaft and the other end to the said wheel, a gear wheel loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said shaft, a pawl and ratchet mechanism con-.

necting the said gear wheel with the said winding-up shaft, a cam for throwing the pawl of the said pawl and ratchet mechanism into and out of engagement with its ratchet wheel, a shifting rod carrying the said cam and movable in the direction of its length, a second cam on the said shifting rod, and a pin carried by the said wheel and engaging the said second cam, the said pin extending between successive convolutions of the said spring.-

11. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a vertically movable operating member geared with the said shaft, means for normally locking the shaft and its operating member, coin-actuated means for releasing the said shaft and permitting its forward rotation by the said member, a spring-actuated mechanism for limiting the time within which the said coin-actuated means are inactive after the introduction of the coin, the said spring-actuated mechanism comprising a winding-up shaft, a wheel loose on the said shaft and connected with a member of the said coin-actuated means, a spring having one end secured to the said winding-up shaft and the other end to the said wheel, a gear wheel loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said shaft, a pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting the said gear wheel with the said winding-up shaft, a cam for throwing the pawl of the said pawl and ratchet mechanism into and out of engagement with its ratchet wheel, a shifting rod carrying the said cam and movable in the direction of its length, a second cam on the said shifting rod, an arm fulcrumed on the said wheel, and a pin carried on the free end of the said arm and in engagement with the said second cam, the pin passing between successive convolutions of the said sprin 12. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a coincontrolled device for rendering the said shaft operative on the introduction of a coin, the said coin-controlled device having a notched wheel and a lever provided with a tooth adapted to ride on the peripheral face of the said notched wheel and to drop into the notch of the wheel, a winding-up shaft, a gear wheel loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said notched wheel, a spring having one end connected with the said winding-up shaft, and the other end with the said gear wheel, a second gear wheel, loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said shaft, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the said second gear wheel and the said winding-up shaft, and a cam device for throwing the pawl into and out of engagement with its ratchet, said cam device having a pin moving with the said first named gear wheel and controlled by the said spring.

13. In a coin controlled apparatus, a shaft, a coin-controlled device for rendering the said shaft operative on the introduction of a coin, the said coin-controlled device having a notched wheel and a lever provided with a tooth adapted to ride on the peripheral face of the said notched wheel and to drop into the notch of the wheel, a windingup shaft, a gear wheel loose on the said winding-up shaft and geared with the said notched wheel, a spring having one end connected with the said winding-up shaft and the other end with the said gear wheel, a

second gear wheel loose on the said windingup shaft and geared with the said pointer shaft, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the said second gear wheel and the said winding-up shaft, a spring-pressed shifting rod having two cams, one for engagement with the pawl of the said pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a pin movably carried by the said first named gear wheel and controlling the other cam, the said pin being controlled by successive convolutions of the said sprin In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. CHAPPEL. Witnesses:

Tnno. Gr. Hosrnn,

PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS. 

